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AdamSteel

Adam Steel is a PhD candidate with the NIH/OxCam graduate program, co-supervised by Dr Charlotte Stagg at Oxford University and Dr Chris Baker at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Adam’s research focuses on the neural substrate that supports skill learning and memory in humans. Functioning in day-to-day life relies on the ability to acquire and implement skilled behaviour. While the storage of learned skills is often taken for granted, it is a dynamic process where the skill can be maintained, improved upon, or forgotten over time. While this interim period is critically important, little is known about the neural substrates of the storage process or ways to improve the efficacy of memory storage. By improving the efficiency of learning and memory storage, rehabilitation can be significantly improved. One potential means of improving memory is by adding incentive feedback (i.e. rewards or punishments) to the learning environment. Adam’s work uses fMRI, MR spectroscopy, and brain stimulation to probe the neural networks involved in the learning and consolidation of procedural skills, and determine how the network properties are modulated by the presence of feedback. In the clinic, these behavioural interventions will inform the rehabilitation strategy during recovery of function after stroke or traumatic brain injury.